NEXT TO NORMAL Returns To New Haven

Producer Declan Riley Kunkel has announced that Next To Normal, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, is returning to New Haven, Connecticut in January.

Directed by Abbey Burgess and written by the Tony Award-winning team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (Book and Lyrics), Next To Normal will begin performances on Thursday, January 25 at the Off-Broadway Theater in Downtown New Haven, and will run until Saturday, January 27.

Originally staged on Broadway in 2009, Next To Normal had its first production at a 2002 Vollage Theater reading, before opening in New York City with a cast that included Norbert Leo Butz as Dan, Sherie Rene Scott as Diana, Benjamin Shrader as Gabe, Anya Singleton as Natalie and Greg Naughton as Dr. Madden. After re-writes the production was workshopped again at Village Theatre before running at the New York Musical Theater Festival. There, the production attracted the attention of Producer David Stone, who produced Next to Normal off-Broadway in 2008 before moving to Broadway's Booth Theater on March 27, 2009. The Broadway production closed on January 16, 2011 after 733 regular performance.

Next To Normal is a breathtaking musical that is more than a feel-good musical: it is a feel-everything musical. When architect and mother Diana suffers a breakdown, it is up to her family and an ever-changing team of doctors and medication to manage her illness. The dazzling rock score by Yorkey transforms the reality of mental illness into a touching and painful story that captures the hearts of the audience. By tracking a mother struggling with bipolar depression, a father and husband just trying to keep his family and home together, a daughter fighting to remain visible in spite of her perfect older brother, a stoner boyfriend, and a rocker psychiatrist, the audience is in for a production that they will not forget.

Director Abbey Burgess said, "I originally saw Next to Normal seven years ago now: it is still the most intricately woven, exquisitely crafted show I've ever come across. Next to Normal is not your typical Broadway musical: while it has show-stopping numbers, its core lies in the aching emotional intensity and biting humor of the book and lyrics by Yorkey, only buoyed by Kitt's masterful rock score. An important discussion on grief and the costs of love, Next to Normal breaks open long-held stigmas surrounding mental health, and in my opinion is the most raw and daringly honest representation of mental illness found onstage. "

Producer Declan Riley Kunkel said, "Next To Normal was one of the first shows that I saw in New York, and remains one of the most touching evenings I've ever had at the theater. I've always wanted to produce it. But it was not until I found Director Abbey Burgess that I knew that it had to be done in New Haven"

Next to Normal stars Erin Krebs as Diana Goodman, Gilberto Saenz as Dan Goodman, Erin Hebert as Natalie Goodman, Tobiah Richkind as Gabe Goodman, Jake Moses as Henry, and Alex Swanson as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine.

Next To Normal was originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre. The New York Premier was produced by Second State Theater, New York, in February 2008. Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director. "Next to Normal was subsequently produced by Arena Stage in November 2008. Developed at Village Theatre, Issaquah, WA (Robb Hunt, Executive Producer, Steve Tomkins, Artistic Director). An earlier version was presented in the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Support for the development of "Next To Normal" was provided by the Jonathan Larson Foundation.

Declan Riley Kunkel presents NEXT TO NORMAL, directed by Abbey Burgess. Musical Direction by Hayden Kline, Orchestral Direction by Samuel Hollister. Lighting Designer: Ryan Seffinger, Set Designer Caroline Francisco, Sound Designer Sammy Grob, Props Designer Etian Ack, Costume Designer Eren Kafadar, Hair by Garima Singh, Makeup by Christina Pao, Graphics by Clara Olshansky. Associate Producer: Eden Mendelsohn. Technical Director: Claire James Carroll, Master Electrician: Sara Harris, and Assistant Director: Tarek Ziad. Next to Normal is Staged Managed by Lina Knapp. January 25-27, Off-Broadway Theater, New Haven, CT. For Tickets: visit www.yaledramacoalition.org/therewillbelight or call (817) 734-1752

NEXT TO NORMAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com.

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